DCN October 2017 - Page 30

Thermal imaging
Investing In
Infrared
Andrew Baker, sales director at FLIR Systems, discusses what to watch out for
when investing in thermal imaging to detect faults within the data centre.
D
ata centre systems’ failures
are costly, not just in terms
of revenue loss, but also
company reputation and
shareholder value. So, it’s
critical that any electrical fault is
spotted in its infancy before it has
the potential to compromise service.
A popular method for
detecting these faults is thermal
imaging. It’s a technology that
has become mainstream in the
last decade whose cost has fallen
substantially thanks to its scope of
application across many industry
sectors. It is also the subject
of continuous development,
presenting prospective purchasers
with a lot of choice.
The range now extends from
pocket-sized models and infrared-
enabled smart phones to low cost
30 | October 2017
point-and-shoot troubleshooting
cameras and high-end models with
every function necessary for the
professional thermographer. So
how do you assess the best model
for your needs?
Here are some important
pointers to help ensure the scope
of your thermal imaging camera
matches the scope of your job.
Buy the best your
budget allows
Most thermal imaging cameras
have fewer pixels than visible light
cameras, so pay close attention
to detection resolution. Higher
resolution infrared cameras can
measure smaller targets from
farther away and create sharper
thermal images, both of which
add up to more precise and
reliable measurements.
Also, be aware of the difference
between detector and display
resolution. Some manufacturers
will boast about a high-resolution
LCD to mask their low-resolution
detector when it’s the detector
resolution that matters most.
For instance, LCD resolution
may spec at 640 x 480, capable of
displaying 307,200 pixels of image
content. But if the IR detector
pixel resolution is only 160 x 120,
giving 19,200 measurement points,
the greater display resolution
accomplishes nothing as the
quality of the thermal image and
its measurement data are always
determined by detector resolution.
Higher resolution thermal
imaging not only provides more